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Weekly anb09197.txt #7
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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 19-09-2002 PART #7/7
* South Africa. Oil spill threatens coast - 13 September: Officials in
South Africa have held an emergency meeting to consider how to deal with a
damaged freighter that is leaking oil in an environmentally sensitive area
off the eastern coast. The Italian-flagged "Jolly Rubino", ran aground near
the St. Lucia Wetland Park, a bird sanctuary, on 12 September. The
authorities have warned the public that the ship is also carrying a
container filled with Highly toxic chemicals. The vessel is on fire, and
the authorities say they cannot begin the salvage process until this is put
out. The ship had more than 1,000 tonnes of diesel and fuel oil on board
when it beached. 15 September: Rescue workers are laying oil-absorbent
booms to try and protect the nature reserve. Conservationists will also to
work out if the stranded ship can be refloated and towed to sea or if the
oil must be pumped out. 17 September: Salvage workers have managed to
reduce the amount of oil escaping from the burning ship, but hope of
refloating the ship are fading. 18 September: MISNA reports that salvage
workers have now abandoned attempts to tow the Jolly Rubino out to sea.
They have now begun prepartions to pump out the oil. (ANB-BIA, Belgium,
18 September 2002)
* Soudan. Réfugiés érythréens - Le 14 septembre, le HCR a débuté la
procédure légale d'enregistrement des réfugiés érythréens qui désirent
continuer à vivre au Soudan sous asile politique. En juin dernier, le HCR
avait décidé que les Erythréens vivant au Soudan perdront leur statut de
réfugiés au 31 décembre 2002. Des bureaux ont été ouverts au centre et à
l'est du Soudan pour permettre aux réfugiés, qui sont en mesure de prouver
qu'ils feraient l'objet de persécution politique à leur retour en Erythrée,
de se présenter pour un examen judiciaire de leur cas. D'autre part,
quelque 3.000 réfugiés érythréens qui se sont portés volontaires pour un
rapatriement, ont été inscrits. (PANA, Sénégal, 14 septembre 2002)
* Sudan. Rebels call for resumption of peace talks - 9 September: MISNA
reports that the Sudanese airforce has carried out an air raid,today,
targeting the centre of Yabus in southern Sudan. Two young boys are killed
and eight others injured. The bombs fall short of a primary school
courtyard. 12 September: The Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army
(SPLM/A) has called for the resumption of peace talks that aborted last
week after the Khartoum government pulled out, citing the recapture of the
southern Sudanese town of Torit by the SPLA, as the country's 19-year civil
war lingers on. In an interview with PANA in Nairobi, SPLM/A spokesman Dr
Samson Kwaje said the Khartoum government was only using the recapture of
Torit as a pretext to abort the talks for which it has never demonstrated
serious commitment. Kwaje said the delegation from Southern Sudan at the
talks was still in Kenya ready to return to Machakos, 100 km northeast of
the Kenyan capital, where the talks were being held. "But we cannot afford
to keep [our delegation] in Kenya for ever. We are also prepared to
continue to defend our territory as we have been doing for the past 19
years, if Khartoum refuses to talk peace," Kwaje said. 17 September:
Sudan's government is demanding guarantees from the SPLA that it will
observe a cessation of hostilities before talks aimed at ending a 19-year
civil war can resume. Meanwhile, US officials on 16 September said that the
government's actions in the rebel-controlled south were threatening
Washington's recent rapprochement with Sudan. 18 September: The government
rules out discussions on the rebels' demand for the incorporation of the
Nuba Mountains, the southern Blue Nile, and Abyei with southern
Sudan. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 18 September 2002)
* Sudan. "Sudan's Best Chance For Peace -- How Not To Lose It" - The
International Crisis Group (ICG) has published a Report (17 September 2002)
on recent peace efforts in Sudan. The ICG says: "The first round of the
promising peace process mediated by the regional Inter-Governmental
Authority for Development (IGAD), produced the breakthrough Machakos
Protocol, with provisional agreements on the key issues of a
self-determination referendum for the South, and religion and state.
However, the government walked out of the second round after losing an
important city on the battlefield in early September. IGAD mediators and
the observer countries (USA, UK, Norway, Italy) must devise a strategy for
reviving the talks and then keeping the parties focused on negotiating a
comprehensive solution". The Report offers Recommendations to the IGAD
envoys, the IGAD secretariat, and the International observers. (For the
full report, please see CrisisWeb -- http://www.crisisweb.org) (ICG,
Belgium, 17 September 2002)
* Togo. Opposant et journaliste condamnés - Claude Amegavani, président
du Parti des travailleurs togolais, et Julien Ayi, directeur du journal
Nouvel Echo, ont été condamnés à 4 mois de prison et à une amende de
100.000 FCFA chacun, pour atteinte à l'honneur du président Eyadéma. Les
deux hommes avaient été incarcérés quelques jours après la publication,
début août, par deux journaux privés, d'articles sur la fortune présumée du
chef de l'Etat togolais et de sa famille, évaluée à 4,5 milliards de
dollars. Amegavani aurait diffusé sur Internet et publié sur un quotidien
togolais, sous un pseudonyme, une article où il est question d'importantes
sommes d'argent puisées dans les caisses de l'Etat et transportées sur un
compte à l'étranger. Le tribunal n'a pas tenu compte de la déclaration sous
serment d'un journaliste en exil qui a reconnu être l'auteur de l'article.
Le 13 septembre, Amnesty International et Reporters sans frontières ont
dénoncé la condamnation. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 13 septembre 2002)
* Togo. Législatives fixées au 27 octobre - Des élections législatives
anticipées auront lieu le 27 octobre prochain au Togo, a-t-on appris le 18
septembre à Lomé de source officielle. Un décret à cet effet a été signé
par le président Eyadéma. On rappelle que les principaux partis
d'opposition appellent au boycottage de ces législatives, du fait de la
modification unilatérale par le gouvernement du code électoral, qui avait
été adopté de manière consensuelle par l'opposition et la mouvance
présidentielle dans le cadre de l'accord-cadre de Lomé. (PANA, Sénégal,
18 septembre 2002)
* Uganda. 2 Ugandan Martyrs to be Beatified in October - Pope John Paul
II on 20 October will beatify two young catechists of the Acholi ethnic
group of Uganda, who died for their faith in 1918. The Acholis live in the
area now occupied by the guerrillas of the Lord's Resistance Army, who
kidnap their children and force them into their ranks. Daudi (David) Okelo,
about 16 to 18 years of age, and Jildo Irwa, about 12 to 14 years of age,
were speared and knifed to death in Palamuku, near Paimol, a northern
village, in the Upper Nile basin. They were dragged out of a hut, where
they had sought refuge, by two local chiefs. The chiefs had demanded that
the pair stop teaching the Gospel. Since the day of their martyrdom, the
place of their death has been called Wi-Polo ("In Heaven"), a reminder of
the two youths' reward. On Sunday, 20 October, John Paul II will present
the two Ugandans as models of fidelity to their Christian calling. Uganda
already has a history of martyrdom. In 1969 in Namugongo, Paul VI
proclaimed the first 27 martyrs of this African country. They had died a
century earlier. Before going to Paimol, David Okelo and Jildo Irwa were
asked by Father Cesare Gambaretto, the missionary superior: "And if they
kill you?" "We will go to heaven. Anthony is already there, no?" David
answered, referring to another catechist. Seeing the missionary worried and
perplexed, Jildo added: "No, Father, do not be afraid. Jesus and Mary are
with us." Christians comprise almost 70% of Uganda's 23.9 million
people. (Zenit, Italy, 12 September 2002)
* Ouganda. Recensement national - Le président Museveni a dissipé les
craintes que les données collectées dans le cadre du recensement de la
population, qui a démarré le 13 septembre, ne soient utilisées à des fins
de discrimnation politique et d'imposition. Il réagissait ainsi à des
craintes exprimées par le public et entretenues par ses adversaires
politiques. Avant le début du recensement, la population, particulièrement
en zone rurale, avait exprimé son ressentiment, affirmant qu'il était tabou
selon la coutume ougandaise de compter les enfants, les épouses, le bétail
et les biens du ménage. Craignant que cette opération serve à des fins
d'imposition, certains paysans auraient diminué le nombre de leurs têtes de
bétail, en les dissimulant dans la brousse. Ce recensement qui durera une
semaine, sera le plus détaillé jamais réalisé dans le pays. (PANA,
Sénégal, 13 septembre 2002)
* Ouganda. Deux missionnaires enlevés - Le 14 septembre, les rebelles
ougandais de l'Armée de résistance du Seigneur (LRA) ont enlevé deux
missionnaires italiens et un nombre indéterminé d'Ougandais après avoir
attaqué la ville d'Opit (330 km au nord de Kampala). Les PP. Ponziano
Velluto (71 ans) et Alex Pizzi (63 ans) ont été emmenés par les rebelles,
qui les ont libérés plus tard dans la journée. Plusieurs civils ont
également été relâchés, mais on ignore leur nombre. Selon l'armée, deux
rebelles ont été tués lors de l'attaque, alors que plusieurs soldats ont
été blessés. (D'après AP, USA, 15 septembre 2002)
* Uganda. High alert in many areas - 13 September: Uganda's first
national census for eleven years starts today, with people encouraged to
stay at home and wait for the census takers. The day has been declared a
public holiday, although the nationwide exercise will not be completed
until 19 September. The last census in 1991, put the population at 16.1
million, according to the New Vision newspaper. This time, officials expect
the numbers to rise as high as 22 million. The army and police are on high
alert during the census, especially in the north. 15 September: Reports
from Uganda say the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) have released two
Italian priests who were abducted during an attack (14 September) on the
Opiti Catholic Mission, near Gulu. An unknown number of Ugandan civilians
also kidnapped during the raid are thought to have been released as well.
16 September: Looking at the general situation over the last few days, LRA
rebels have carried out a series of attacks, kidnapping 41 people. The
Ugandan army carried out operations against the rebels and were able to
release 34 people, some of whom had been held for three or four years. As a
result of an LRA attack on a convoy carrying World Food Programme
assistance to displaced people, the agency has suspended operations in
northern Uganda. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 16 September 2002)
* Ouganda. Le nord du pays exsangue - Selon un rapport de l'Onu, la lutte
qui oppose l'armée ougandaise aux rebelles de la LRA a créé une situation
humanitaire dramatique dans le nord de l'Ouganda. Les ressources locales ne
suffisent plus depuis le retour d'environ 3.000 combattants de la LRA,
autrefois basés au Soudan. Les principales villes de la région considérées
comme sûres ont vu affluer les réfugiés dans leurs hôpitaux, leurs écoles
et leurs églises. Quarante camps, situés dans trois districts, sont
difficilement alimentés par le PAM. Quelque 522.000 personnes, dans
l'incapacité de cultiver leurs champs, sont menacées. L'opération lancée
par le président Museveni contre la LRA au Soudan et les tentatives de
négociation avec son chef, Joseph Kony, semblent être dans l'impasse.
(Ndlr.: Selon une dépêche de l'agence Misna du 17 septembre, le PAM a
décidé de suspendre jusqu'à nouvel ordre la distribution des aides
alimentaires dans les districts de Pader et de Kitgum, à cause des
fréquentes attaques de la LRA contre les moyens de transport sur les
routes). (JA/L'Intelligent, France, 16 septembre 2002)
* Zimbabwe. Lois d'expulsions - Le 12 septembre, le gouvernement
zimbabwéen a annoncé qu'il allait durcir les lois relatives à l'expulsion
des fermiers blancs, une décision qui annule les sursis accordés par la
justice à des vingtaines de fermiers. Les ordres d'expropriation donnant 90
jours aux fermiers pour quitter leurs terres et jugés invalides par les
tribunaux, seront de nouveau envoyés. Ces derniers accorderont sept jours
aux fermiers pour partir, et ce à partir de la date d'émission. Les amendes
infligées aux fermiers réfractaires devraient passer de 20.000 dollars
zimbabwéens (environ 363 euros) à 100.000 (1.800 euros). Si le décret,
publié le 13 septembre, est approuvé par le Parlement, plus aucun recours
devant la justice ne sera possible. -- Le vendredi 13 septembre, douze
fermiers blancs ont été arrêtés dans la région de Chiredzi (sud-est) et
resteront en garde à vue jusqu'à lundi, pour ne pas avoir respecté l'ordre
d'expropriation. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 14 septembre 2002)
* Zimbabwe. Retired judge arrested - 13 September: Zimbabwean police have
arrested a 65-year-old former judge, Fergus Blackie, who earlier this year
sentenced a government minister to a jail term. Retired high court judge
Fergus Blackie is arrested at four o'clock, this morning, at his home,
according to friends of the family. The arrest is the latest incident in a
series of conflicts between the government of President Robert Mugabe and
the judiciary. Judges have overturned government decisions on the media and
the land resettlement programme, to the anger of ministers. Seven judges
have resigned or retired early from the bench in the last 15 months, and
there is only one white judge left in the high court. Twelve white farmers
are also reported to have been arrested in the southern area of Chiredzi,
today, for defying eviction orders requiring them to leave their farms.
Also, the government gazette publishes new regulations on land resettlement
which are intended to speed up the process of land redistribution. 14
September: The former judge appears in court. A police spokesman says the
judge is under investigation and could face criminal prosecution for
allegedly overturning the conviction of a white woman on fraud charges. 16
September: A report from the Daily Telegraph says that yesterday, the
Zimbabwe High Court ruled that the arrest and continued detention of former
Judge Blackie was legal. -- He is released on bail, today. (ANB-BIA,
Belgium, 16 September 2002)
* Zimbabwe/Libye. Pétrole et vivres - Le 9 septembre, la Libye et le
Zimbabwe ont renouvelé un contrat de partenariat commercial d'envergure.
Tripoli s'engage à fournir, au cours de la prochaine année, quelque 360
millions de dollars de pétrole à Harare, soit 70% de ses besoins annuels.
En échange, la Jamahiriya bénéficiera de facilités d'investissements dans
de nombreux domaines. Parmi ceux-ci: les infrastructures pétrolières, les
mines, l'agriculture et le tourisme. -- D'autre part, le 16 septembre, le
Japon a accordé au Zimbabwe 4 millions de dollars destinés à l'achat de
vivres pour faire face à la famine. Cette aide sera octroyée par
l'intermédiaire du PAM, dans le cadre d'un don de 12,4 millions de dollars
offert par le gouvernement japonais aux pays d'Afrique australe frappés par
la famine. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 16 septembre 2002)
* Zimbabwe. Speeding up farmer evictions - 12 September: The Zimbabwe
Government plans to change the law, making it easier and quicker to evict
white farmers, state media has reported. The new legislation would be
introduced soon, according to the Herald newspaper, widely seen as a
government mouthpiece. This follows the refusal of many white farmers to
comply with a government deadline to leave their farms by 9 August. Many
have filed legal challenges and the High Court has ruled that many eviction
orders were invalid because the government had failed to notify banks, to
which many farms are mortgaged. Fines for not complying with eviction
orders will be increased from 20,000 Zimbabwe dollars to 10,000 Z$
($1,800), the Herald says. The paper also quoted Justice Minister Patrick
Chinamasa as saying that he will be trying to reduce the time farmers have
to leave their farms from 90 to five days after they are served with an
eviction order. Some 2,900 of Zimbabwe's 4,000 white farmers were told to
leave their land last month. But lobby group Justice for Agriculture (Jag)
says that 2,500 have remained. Some 300 of them have been arrested by the
police. Correspondents say the government is frustrated by its inability to
legally take possession of white-owned farms. President Robert Mugabe has
promised his supporters that his "land revolution" would be completed by
the end of last month. -- President Mugabe tells the UN General Assembly
that his government has completed its "fast track" land reforms. 18
September: Parliament adopts new legislation making it easier to evict
white farmers. The new law will force farmers to leave their land within a
week of being served eviction notices, rather than the 90-day deadline
previously in place. Many farmers used the 90 days to appeal against their
eviction orders, many of which were subsequently annulled by the High
Court. Under the new law, these cancelled eviction orders can be
reissued. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 18 September 2002)
* Zimbabwe. The real victims of land seizures - The worst victims of
Robert Mugabe's land seizures are not the few thousand white farming
families being evicted from their farms. Those suffering the most are the
hundreds of thousands of black farm workers who are losing their jobs,
being thrown out of their homes, often violently, and who will make up an
enormous new landless class. As Zimbabwe's parliament on 17 September
considered new legislation to speed up the seizure of white-owned land, Mr
Mugabe's ministers made no mention of the growing crisis of homeless black
farm workers and their families. But trade unions, aid agencies and human
rights groups are very concerned about their rapidly worsening plight.
About 150,000 labourers have been evicted from seized farms, and when their
families are included that figure grows to 780,000, according to a new
survey by the Zimbabwe Community Development Trust (ZCDT). The ZCDT survey
also shows that more than 10,000 orphans and 14,000 elderly people who had
lived on the farms will now be homeless. The ZCDT is distributing blankets
and food. Another group, the Farm Community Trust, is providing food for
80,000 children in central Zimbabwe, and the Farm Orphan Support Trust is
helping children in the eastern part of the country. (The Guardian, UK,
18 September 2002)
Weekly anb0919.txt - #7/7
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